Rumor - Confirmed

Reflections - A Disney Lakeside Lodge Rumor Tracker

Time Frame

Rumor Status

Specific Details

Reflections - A Disney Lakeside Lodge is a new "mixed-use" nature inspired resort coming to Bay Lake on the former River Country grounds. Details of the resort are as follows:

Opening in 2022

Located between Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness Resort and Campgrounds

900 rooms with Disney Vacation Club Villas

It will be Disney's 16th Disney Vacation Club Property

The name has not been announced

Architecture firm WATG is expected to design the resort with construct to be done by Balfour Beatty.

The resort calls for 1340 bays (industry term for standard sized rooms) and 300 "equivalency units" for DVCs that may utilize up to 940 bays depending on size.

WATG has previously worked on Disney's Grand Floridian Resort, the convention center and the wedding pavilion.

The estimated cost for the new resort is $350 million with development potentially being higher than that. This project appears connected to the Project 89 permits that were filed in March.

As part of the changes, Mickey's Backyard BBQ is expected to have it's last day of operation on December 31, 2018. It is anticipated that a similar experience will return at some point in the future.

Rumor Timeline

November 17, 2018: At the D23 Destination D Event, Bob Chapek (Chairman of Disney Parks, Events, Consumer Products) announced the name of the new Bay Lake resort, Reflections - A Disney Lakeside Lodge.

October 18, 2018: Disney officially announced a new "mixed-use" nature inspired resort along Bay Lake on the former River Country grounds. Details of the resort are as follows:

Opening in 2022

Located between Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness Resort and Campgrounds

900 rooms with Disney Vacation Club Villas

It will be Disney's 16th Disney Vacation Club Property

The name has not been announced

October 14, 2018: On Episode 183 of the Disney Dish Podcast, Jim Hill and Len Testa discuss a listener question from listener Kate. Kate received a survey that mentioned a potential name for the Fort Wilderness DVC, "Reflections: A Disney Lakeside Lodge"

August 30, 2018: WDWMagic.com is reporting that Mickey's Backyard BBQ at Fort Wilderness is expected to have it's last day of operation on December 31, 2018. The restaurant is expected to close as a part of the changes currently underway at that resort. There are plans to bring back a similar BBQ experience at a later date. At this time there are no plans to remove the Hoop Dee Doo Musical Review

May 31, 2018: WDWInfo.com and GrowthSpotter.com (Pay wall) are reporting that Disney is hiring contractors for a new themed hotel on the former River Country site (near Fort Wilderness). Architecture firm WATG is expected to design the resort with construct to be done by Balfour Beatty.

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The resort calls for 1340 bays (industry term for standard sized rooms) and 300 "equivalency units" for DVCs that may utilize up to 940 bays depending on size.

WATG has previously worked on Disney's Grand Floridian Resort, the convention center and the wedding pavilion.

The estimated cost for the new resort is $350 million with development potentially being higher than that. This project appears connected to the Project 89 permits that were filed in March.

May 30, 2018: On Episode 164 of the Unofficial Guide's Disney Dish podcast, Jim Hill and Len Testa discuss potential plans for a DVC at Fort Wilderness, highlighting many of the same points from their January 2016 episode.

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March 12, 2018: WDWMagic.com user marni1971 is reporting that this will be a new resort.

March 6, 2018: WDWMagic.com user danlb_2000 is reporting that Disney has filed permits with the South Florida Water Management District under the project name, "Project 89". The permits appear exploratory at this point and additional details on the scope of this project are unknown.

January 1, 2016: On Episode 94 of The Unofficial Guide's Disney Dish with Jim Hill, Jim discusses a potential plan to convert the former River Country area adjacent to the Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground into a new DVC building. Per Jim, the rumor calls for a 5 story building on that site with site prep beginning later in 2016. The expectation is that the new DVC would have references to River Country.

September 30, 2011: Disney filed permits for a DVC at Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground. These plans seemingly did not materialize.